The key facts
- From December 10, IrAero launches flights to Sanya from Chita (on Thursdays) and Blagoveshchensk (on Fridays, from December 11)
- Flights on Sukhoi Superjet 100 with a refueling stop in Hefei
- In January–July 2026, Hainan was visited by 446 thousand Russians — 69% more than a year earlier
New flights to Hainan
The IrAero airline is launching flights from Chita and Blagoveshchensk to the resort city of Sanya in the south of China's Hainan province from December 10. This was reported by the carrier's press service. Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft will operate the flights, and the routes include a technical stopover in the Chinese city of Hefei for refueling.
Schedule
Flights from Chita will depart on Thursdays, with the first flight scheduled for December 10. From Blagoveshchensk — on Fridays, starting December 11. Return flights are scheduled on Fridays to Chita and on Saturdays to Blagoveshchensk. Both destinations have already appeared on the airline's official website.
Context of growing demand
According to Life.ru, Hainan authorities previously announced plans to improve the quality of service for Russian tourists amid growing demand. In January–July 2026, the island was visited by 446 thousand Russians, 69% more than in the same period last year; they accounted for almost 39% of the total foreign tourist flow to the resort. It was also reported that China has extended the visa-free regime with Russia until the end of 2027, and a cross-border cable car between Blagoveshchensk and Heihe is being prepared for launch: construction was completed in the summer, the cabins must complete about 1,200 hours of test runs without passengers, with an estimated opening date of May 2027.
